What Georgette said hit Frederic like a lightning bolt, paralyzing him momentarily.
After gathering his thoughts, he managed to ask, "I don't understand."
"Nancy said she saw a black mole on the forehead of the woman who discarded the child. Your mother's maid had a similar mole. Frederic, is it possible that Joey could be..."
Frederic cut him off before he could finish. "No, Joey is the daughter of Plum and Edward, not my mom. I'll handle this carefully. Please keep this from Joey for now."
Georgette let out a sigh of relief.
"I hope this doesn't involve your mother. The implications for you and Joey would be dire..."
He couldn't bear the thought that if Cherry had orchestrated the abandonment or even Plum's death, it would mean Joey and Frederic were linked by a dark, tragic past.
